Understanding Internal Medicine

In choosing a primary care physician, you may wonder what the difference is between a general practitioner (GP) and an internist. One of the basic distinctions is that a GP treats patients of all ages, while a doctor of internal medicine focuses on treating adults. However, there is more to internal medicine than meets the eye.

Internal medicine is a medical specialty that requires a more comprehensive knowledge of both common and complex diseases, making internists experts in diagnosing specific ailments and promoting wellness and preventive care.

Here are other insights into the value of internal medicine.

An Enhanced Form of Medical Care

As the world’s largest medical specialty, internal medicine represents an advanced form of primary care that balances regular preventive care needs with specialized care needs.

Besides functioning as a generalist physician, an internal medicine physician often also undergoes additional training in order to focus their practice in one of the subspecialty areas within internal medicine, such as cardiovascular disease, critical care medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, geriatric medicine, hematology, oncology, nephrology, pulmonary disease, rheumatology, or sports medicine, just to name a few.

Internal medicine also emphasizes research and translating scientific knowledge into clinical practice. In fact, as much as two-thirds of all clinical research funding through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is awarded to internal medicine physicians.

Why Should You Choose an Internal Medicine Doctor for Your Primary Care?

If you are an adult, there are several reasons why it is beneficial to choose an internist as your primary care physician:

  • You want a doctor who can address everything from preventive care to serious or chronic illnesses.
  • You want a physician who can provide routine physicals, screenings, and tests necessary to help keep you healthy.
  • If you have a chronic disease such as hypertension (high blood pressure) or diabetes, an internal medicine doctor can coordinate with specialists if more complex care is needed.
  • Even if you are healthy, an internist can help you as your health needs change.

In any case, it is important to have a primary care physician who can help facilitate prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as managing chronic illness, medication management, and referrals – all of which an internal medicine doctor can provide.

Internal Medicine Doctor Near You in Dallas, Texas

At Prime Internal Medicine Associates, we consider you more than just a patient. Your general health and well-being are our top priority, and we proudly offer the highest-quality, complete primary care to adults of all ages in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

Our board-certified physicians provide expert diagnosis and exceptional treatment for a wide range of medical conditions. Besides focusing on our patient’s individual medical needs, we prioritize the implementation of holistic lifestyle changes that result in improved acute and chronic conditions. Our comprehensive areas of expertise and on-site services include:

To learn more about our treatment services, we encourage you to call us today at (972) 239-5445 to request an appointment with one of our highly skilled providers. You can use our convenient online appointment request form. Either way, we look forward to serving you.